Comparison of Decorations on Arms and non-Arms Objects

Tatyana Dianova · 7th July 2010, 08:03 AM

I have a curious dagger which was discussed here (please scroll down a bit to see it) :
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5784

The most interesting part of it is a stamped upper mount of the scabbard, which depicts three women. All parts fit to each other perfectly and look like they were put together a very long time ago. The seller told me that this dagger was the part of a private German collection put together at the beginning of the 20th century.

Yesterday I seem to have found the key to the mystery, where this dagger was made (or at least put together)! Take a look at the picture of the Hindu silver amulet from the northern India, rural Himachal Pradesh. These amulets are very typical for this region and appear only there, so I am pretty sure that the dagger originated there too!

These amulets depict in a very distinctive manner three figures, side by side, wearing full skirts, and 3-lobed hats or crowns. It is a traditional folk image representing the Mother Goddess (Hoi Mata) as a trinity. Hoi Mata presides over the well being of the family in the local folk beliefs. (Sources: Oppi Untracht “Traditional Jewelry Of India”, Google :-)

Tim Simmons · 7th July 2010, 09:42 AM

Great stuff. It might still be Kalash an hindu island in Chitral? The work on the handle is very much "Khyber style" for want of better words.

Tatyana Dianova · 7th July 2010, 10:41 AM

Tim, I have looked for Kalash information in Wiki, and they have some women godesses too, but unfortunately I have found no images or descriptions of them... Kalash live "between" the Himachal Pradesh and Afghanistan, so it is still possible that the dagger was assembled there

Jens Nordlunde · 7th July 2010, 04:02 PM

Tatyana – very well done.

In this Memory Game called collecting it is always exciting to find a ‘new’ part – thank you for showing it

.

I think there can be little doubt that you have found the place of origin for your dagger – congratulations

.

Jens

Tatyana Dianova · 7th July 2010, 07:46 PM

Thank you Jens

eftihis · 7th July 2010, 10:57 PM

Hi Tatiana, great discovery, although it would be great to know if it is from the Kalash region.
By the way Tim, Kalash are not a "hindu island", they are pagans, and their religion relates in a part with ancient Greek religion, as well as some words in their language.
Below is an interesting article about Kalash:

http://www.sott.net/articles/show/21...rom-Extinction

Tim Simmons · 8th July 2010, 06:50 PM

Some more stuff on Kafirs, Pagans in the area. They may not be Hindus but I would bet that elements of Hinduism are in the mix. From "The Aboriginal Tribes of India" Stephen Fuchs 1975.

7th July 2010, 08:03 AM	#1
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 737	I have a curious dagger which was discussed here (please scroll down a bit to see it) : http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5784 The most interesting part of it is a stamped upper mount of the scabbard, which depicts three women. All parts fit to each other perfectly and look like they were put together a very long time ago. The seller told me that this dagger was the part of a private German collection put together at the beginning of the 20th century. Yesterday I seem to have found the key to the mystery, where this dagger was made (or at least put together)! Take a look at the picture of the Hindu silver amulet from the northern India, rural Himachal Pradesh. These amulets are very typical for this region and appear only there, so I am pretty sure that the dagger originated there too! These amulets depict in a very distinctive manner three figures, side by side, wearing full skirts, and 3-lobed hats or crowns. It is a traditional folk image representing the Mother Goddess (Hoi Mata) as a trinity. Hoi Mata presides over the well being of the family in the local folk beliefs. (Sources: Oppi Untracht “Traditional Jewelry Of India”, Google :-) Attached Images

7th July 2010, 04:02 PM	#4
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Tatyana – very well done. In this Memory Game called collecting it is always exciting to find a ‘new’ part – thank you for showing it. I think there can be little doubt that you have found the place of origin for your dagger – congratulations. Jens

8th July 2010, 06:50 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Some more stuff on Kafirs, Pagans in the area. They may not be Hindus but I would bet that elements of Hinduism are in the mix. From "The Aboriginal Tribes of India" Stephen Fuchs 1975. Attached Images

7th July 2010, 09:42 AM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Great stuff. It might still be Kalash an hindu island in Chitral? The work on the handle is very much "Khyber style" for want of better words.

7th July 2010, 10:41 AM	#3
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 737	Tim, I have looked for Kalash information in Wiki, and they have some women godesses too, but unfortunately I have found no images or descriptions of them... Kalash live "between" the Himachal Pradesh and Afghanistan, so it is still possible that the dagger was assembled there

7th July 2010, 07:46 PM	#5
Tatyana Dianova Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 737	Thank you Jens

7th July 2010, 10:57 PM	#6
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 511	Hi Tatiana, great discovery, although it would be great to know if it is from the Kalash region. By the way Tim, Kalash are not a "hindu island", they are pagans, and their religion relates in a part with ancient Greek religion, as well as some words in their language. Below is an interesting article about Kalash: http://www.sott.net/articles/show/21...rom-Extinction